Il Palio

The Palio is the oldest horse race in the world and happens right in the main piazza of Siena two times a year. The different contrade or "neighborhoods" compete for bragging rights and a tapestry which they hang in their church.  A Sienese's life practically revolves around this event that happens two times a year in July and August. Its a huge deal.  Like really huge: I have seen grown men cry and massive fist fights over this thing. I could go on and on about the contrade and more about the Palio, but instead I'll leave you this link.

There were so many people, we had to arrive over three hours in advance to secure a standing spot in the middle of the piazza (a seat on the bleachers starts at 400 euro!).  All for a race that was less than two minutes long.  But it was a blast and worth the wait, but next time I'd prefer to watch from one of the balconies.

The assignment of the horses to each contrada a few days prior:

The contrada flags on the Palazzo Pubblico

Bambini with their fazzoletti:

Sienese men discussing at one of the trials:

The horses were beautiful:

Waiting for it all to start:

The coveted Palio (tapestry):

Just a few people in the piazza:

Perugia

Last weekend Ashley, Katherine, Liz and I went to Perugia.  The first thing we did was visit the Perugina chocolate factory--the company that makes the "Bacio" chocolate.  This first photo is us in front of the model of the biggest chocolate in the world: a huge giant Bacio.

Of course we also got to sample a lot of chocolate and see how they are made...

After touring the factory we headed to the grocery store and bought a nice cold bottle of milk before heading back to the city center.  Paolo, friend of a Margaret's who is studying at the university there, met us there and showed us the city and the nightlife.  We ate pizza at a nice restaurant and met up with Paolo's friends and spent the night walking around the city.  It was a blast.

Italian ragazzacci:

Cinque Terre!

Lucca (and Pisa)

This weekend we took a day trip to Lucca, another little Tuscan town just a couple hours away by train.  Lucca is charming, probably one of my favorite places here (but I tend to say that about every city in Italy...). There are bikes everywhere, of every color and every decade.  We rented some out and rode them around the city wall, which was a lot of fun and allowed us to see more in less time; it was beautiful.

On the way back, when the train made a stop at Pisa, me and Liz made a split-second decision to get off and see the complex.  It was an impulse decision but it turned out great.  In about 30 minutes were were back at the station and took the next train back, after having taken a bunch of cheesy tourist photos that one must take of the Leaning Tower.  But people weren't lying to me when they said that there's nothing in Pisa but the complex--30 minutes was just the right amount.  We even met back up with the rest of the group at on of the other train change stops.

At the station

A peaceful little courtyard park--look at those trees!

Lunch:  ravioli with a tomato-basil-pine nut sauce

Piazza Amfiteatro, oval shaped because it was built on an ancient Roman amphitheater

Old books at an outdoor market

The Pisa complex: baptistry, cathedral, tower

Lake Como

This weekend I headed up north to Milan and Lake Como.

Lake Como was a dream--more beautiful than I could have imagined.  It has been a retreat for the rich and famous since the ancient Roman times, and many beautiful villas and palaces dot the shore, owned by the likes of George Clooney, Madonna, and Gianni Versace.  

We took a ferry from the city of Como at southern point of the lake to Bellagio (where the Las Vegas hotel gets its name from); the views were stunning.  I took far to many photos, but none of them seem to give justice as to just how beautiful the lake is.  We spent some time walking around Bellagio and seeing some of the beautiful homes and sparkly store windows before taking the ferry back and then the train to Milan.